Obesity is a grave public health threat, more serious even than the opioid epidemic.
It is linked to chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and cancer
.
Is obesity a public health priority?
Physical activity and overweight/obesity are now designated as priority areas
and leading health indicators in the nation’s health objectives, Healthy People 2010, developed by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in collaboration with state and territorial health officials and numerous national …
What is the public health impact of overweight and obesity in the United States?
Health Risks
Epidemiological studies show an
increase in mortality
associated with overweight and obesity. Individuals who are obese (BMI > 30) have a 50 to 100 percent increased risk of premature death from all causes compared to individuals with a BMI in the range of 20 to 25.
Should obesity be treated as a serious health concern?
People with obesity are more likely to develop a number of potentially serious health problems, including: Heart disease and strokes
. Obesity makes you more likely to have high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels, which are risk factors for heart disease and strokes. Type 2 diabetes.
Who is responsible for public health and reducing obesity?
CDC
funds states, universities, and communities to advance the nation’s chronic disease prevention and health promotion efforts. This site provides information about funding and grantee programs working to increase healthy eating and active living and prevent adult and childhood obesity.
What are the economic impacts of obesity?
Besides excess health care expenditure, obesity also imposes costs in the form of
lost productivity and foregone economic growth
as a result of lost work days, lower productivity at work, mortality and permanent disability.
What is the obesity health alliance?
The Obesity Health Alliance is
a coalition of over 40 health organisations who have joined together to advocate for policies to improve population health and address obesity
.
What are the health risks for obesity?
- Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. …
- High blood pressure. …
- Heart disease. …
- Stroke. …
- Sleep apnea. …
- Metabolic syndrome. …
- Fatty liver diseases. …
- Osteoarthritis.
How does obesity affect the community?
Obesity is serious because it is associated with
poorer mental health outcomes and reduced quality of life
. Obesity is also associated with the leading causes of death in the United States and worldwide, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.
What is the role of public health professionals in addressing obesity?
When considering obesity prevention, public health’s role is to
create environments that encourage people to make healthy choices
. Public health professionals translate evidence-based information on effective obesity reduction and prevention practices into programs, policies, and environmental strategies.
How can the community help with obesity?
- Promote the availability of affordable healthy food and beverages.
- Support healthy food and beverage choices.
- Encourage breastfeeding.
- Encourage physical activity or limit sedentary activity among children and youth.
- Create safe communities that support physical activity.
Does obesity raise health care costs?
Obesity Costs Are Rising
Overall
Spending on obesity-related conditions accounted for an estimated 8.5 percent of Medicare spending, 11.8 percent of Medicaid spending, and 12.9 percent of private-payer spending.
Why should obese people pay more for healthcare?
According to the literature,
the obese contract chronic diseases at a higher rate than the non-obese
, and consequently pay more for medical care. The lifetime medical costs related to diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, and stroke among the obese are $10,000 higher than among the non-obese.
Who is most at risk of obesity?
More than a third of U.S. adults are obese.
People ages 60 and older
are more likely to be obese than younger adults, according to the most recent data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. And the problem also affects children.
